List of Technologies

List last updated on 27 November 2025

ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker currently tracks 74 critical technologies.

The project was launched in March 2023 with 44 technologies. A further 7 AUKUS relevant technologies were added in June 2023, and 13 additional technologies were added in the September 2023 'Sensors and Biotechnologies' update.

A major update was released in August 2024, where we added a long-term trends visualisations to the website, tracking research performance over two decades (going back to 2003) across each of the tracked technologies.

In our most recent update, launched December 2025, we've added an additional 10 new emerging technologies (bringing the total to 74) and updated the Tracker to include 2024 and preliminary 2025 date.

Research for ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker project started in 2021. We decided to start with the Australian Government’s 2022 ‘List of Critical Technologies in the national interest’ to build our list of technologies and definitions for this project (with some minor tweaks). An archived version of this list can be accessed here . Through extensive consultation with stakeholders both in Australia and across multiple countries, we have over time branched out from this list to incorporate other new and emerging technologies.

We recognise that technology definitions can evolve over time and in future phases of this project we will consult closely with stakeholders as we modify our list and potentially add more technologies.Our intention is for the Tracker to remain a useful, current and comprehensive public policy tool for many years to come.

Definitions for the 74 technologies in the Critical Technology Tracker have been included below, grouped into several broad technology categories.

What are critical technologies?

Critical technologies can be defined as current and emerging technologies with the capacity to significantly enhance, or pose risk to, a country’s national interests, including a nation’s economic prosperity, social cohesion, and national security. This is the Australian Government’s definition, and it’s a good one that holds relevance for all countries. Today, critical technologies are the focus of geopolitical and strategic competition, and our understanding of the critical technology ecosystem—from how to ensure reliable access, the current trajectory of technology development and where the next breakthroughs will occur (and in what)—is too limited. It’s important that we fill this gap, and we hope this project will make a contribution, so we ensure all countries have continued access to the technologies that will underpin future prosperity and security.

Advanced information and communication technologies

Advanced optical communication

Devices and systems that transmit information using light through optical fibers or free space, enhanced by technologies such as lasers, adaptive optics and optical routing. They enable faster, more reliable, and more efficient data transfer, with applications ranging from satellite links and visible light communication ('Li-Fi') to narrow-beam laser systems and high-capacity broadband networks.

Advanced radiofrequency communication

Devices and systems that transmit information using radio waves through air or space, enhanced by innovations such as novel modulation, advanced antenna design and beamforming. These technologies enable faster, more reliable and more efficient connectivity, with applications in satellites, cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sensor networks, connected vehicles, implantable medical devices and secure communications for public safety and defence.

Advanced undersea wireless communication

Technologies that transmit data wirelessly through the underwater environment, using acoustic, optical or radiofrequency methods adapted for high-pressure, low-visibility and long-distance conditions. Applications include undersea exploration, environmental monitoring, offshore energy systems and secure naval communications.

Cloud and edge computing

Computing architectures that distribute processing between centralised data centres and local devices. While cloud computing provides scalable resources for the global exponential growth in computing power demand, edge computing enables low-latency, real-time responses closer to the source. This layered approach is especially valuable in data-intensive and time-sensitive systems, such as in manufacturing and autonomous vehicles.

Digital twins

Dynamic virtual representations of physical objects, processes or systems that are continuously updated with real-time sensor and control data. Unlike static simulations, digital twins maintain a live, bidirectional link with their physical counterparts, enabling continuous monitoring, predictive analytics and operational optimisation. Applications include predictive maintenance in manufacturing, real-time electricity grid management, personalised treatment planning in healthcare and mission readiness assessment in defence.

Distributed ledgers

Digital systems that record transactions and data across multiple locations without relying on a central authority, instead using distributed consensus to ensure integrity. Blockchain is a prominent example, underpinning cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Applications include digital currencies, supply chain verification, emissions monitoring, tracking recyclable content, land registries and share trading.

Extended reality

Technologies that blend digital and physical environments, also referred to as spatial computing. This both the hardware and software that powers virtual reality (fully immersive digital worlds), augmented reality (digital overlays on the physical world) and mixed reality (interactive coexistence of digital and physical elements). Applications include remote operation of military systems such as drones, and training of emergency response personnel.

High performance computing

Computer systems that deliver processing power far beyond standard consumer devices, enabling large-scale data handling and complex calculations. Examples include supercomputers used for climate modelling, computational chemistry and training large language models.

Mesh and infrastructure independent networks

Networks of interconnected devices ('nodes') that communicate without relying on internet or external infrastructure. In mesh networks, nodes can relay data through one another, dynamically selecting the most efficient path based on traffic and arrangement. Though more complex to set up, they provide stable, robust, and secure connections. Applications include Internet of Things systems and sensitive environments where offline communication is essential.

Protective cyber security technologies

Systems, algorithms, and hardware designed to safeguard digital infrastructure and information. Applications include securing operational technologies, enabling trust and authentication, protecting aggregated datasets and AI systems and ensuring supply chain security.

Advanced materials and manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

A manufacturing approach that creates physical objects by depositing material layer by layer from a digital blueprint or 3D model. It supports a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals and ceramics, and can produce parts at scales from microscopic to room-sized. Applications include rapid prototyping, customised designs, and low-volume production.

Advanced composite materials

Materials engineered by combining two or more distinct materials, without dissolving or blending them into each other. These composites exhibit superior strength, stiffness or toughness compared to their base components. Examples include carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics and laminated materials. Applications include vehicle protection, signature reducing materials, construction materials and wind turbine components.

Advanced explosives and energetic materials

Substances engineered to store large amounts of chemical energy that can be released rapidly to produce an explosion or high-pressure impulse. They are formulated and characterised for properties such as energy density, stability and detonation behavior. Common applications include mining, civil engineering (controlled demolitions) and defence.

Advanced magnets and superconductors

Advanced magnets are powerful permanent magnets designed to reduce reliance on critical minerals, with uses in research, electronics, health care, power generation, and electric motors. Superconductors are materials that exhibit no electrical resistance, ideally at room temperature and pressure, supporting applications such as medical imaging, lossless power transmission and quantum computing.

Advanced protection

Clothing and equipment designed to protect military, law enforcement and public safety personnel, as well as defence platforms, from physical harm, chemical or biological hazards. Examples include helmets, fire-retardant fabrics, respirators and body armour.

Coatings

Substances applied to surfaces to provide protective or functional properties beyond the base material. Examples include anti-biofouling coatings for ships and buildings, super-hydrophobic coatings for solar panels or drag reduction, electromagnetic-absorbing coatings for stealth, thermal coatings for energy efficiency and anti-corrosion coatings to prevent rust.

Continuous flow chemical synthesis

Systems that produce fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals through continuous-flow processes rather than batch methods. This approach enables faster, more consistent production with reduced waste, supporting applications such as rapid reaction analysis and the manufacture of industrial chemicals, agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Critical minerals extraction and processing

Systems and processes that enable the safe, efficient and sustainable extraction and safe processing of critical minerals. Applications include mining, mineral concentration and producing battery-grade chemicals for use in energy storage, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

High-specification machining processes

Systems and techniques that cut and shape raw materials into complex, highly precise components. Examples include CNC milling and lathes, electrical discharge machining, precision laser cutting and welding, and water jet cutting. Applications include manufacturing aerospace parts and components for advanced machinery.

Nanoscale materials and manufacturing

Materials with structural features smaller than 100 nanometres, along with the technologies used to create them. Their unique properties enable applications in paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, wastewater treatment, data storage, communications, semiconductors, carbon capture and nanoscale tracking of critical materials.

Novel metamaterials

Synthetic materials engineered to exhibit properties not found in nature, such as bending light or radio waves in unconventional ways. Applications include energy capture and storage, advanced radio antennae and adaptive camouflage.

Smart materials

Materials that alter their properties in response to external stimuli such as heat, stress or damage. Examples include shape-memory alloys that return to a preset form when heated and self-healing materials that automatically repair themselves after damage. Applications span clothing, body armour, construction materials and consumer electronics.

Wide and ultrawide bandgap semiconductors

Semiconducting materials that can be used in devices operating at higher temperatures, voltages, and power levels than conventional silicon devices. Their fast switching speeds and their ability to handle high power densities make them well suited for next-generation communications and energy systems. Applications include advanced power electronics for grid infrastructure (high-efficiency and high-power inverters), high electron mobility transistors and optoelectronic devices such as high-frequency lasers.

AI Technologies

Advanced data analytics

Systems and techniques that process and analyse large volumes of data to generate timely, actionable insights, often with minimal human input. Applications span medical diagnosis, acoustic analysis, regulatory compliance, insurance, climate monitoring, infrastructure planning and national security.

Advanced integrated circuit design and fabrication

Systems and processes for designing and fabricating highly sophisticated integrated circuits. Examples include systems-on-chip (SoCs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), stacked memory architectures and specialised microprocessors, with applications extending to defence and other high-performance domains.

Adversarial AI

Techniques that encompass both attacks on and defences for for artificial intelligence systems, covering tactics that exploit vulnerabilities (for example, data poisoning, adversarial/evasion examples, model extraction and membership inference) and protective measures that harden models and pipelines (such as robust training, input validation, access controls and monitoring/detection).

AI algorithms and hardware accelerators

Computational methods and specialised hardware that enable the efficient training and operation of artificial intelligence systems. Algorithms provide the models and techniques for learning and decision-making, while hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, TPUs and neuromorphic chips, deliver the processing power needed for large-scale or real-time AI applications. Together they underpin advances across fields from scientific research and healthcare to autonomous systems and defence.

Computer vision

Artificial intelligence that enables computers to interpret and analyse visual information from images and video. This is the most mature of the sensory AI, first used in optical character recognition  . Recent advances in computer vision now support complex applications such as autonomous driving, medical diagnosis and other systems requiring real-time visual understanding of complex images and videos.

Generative AI

Artificial intelligence systems that can create new content, such as text, images, audio, video or code, by learning latent patterns and structures from large volumes of data. These models identify and replicate underlying data distributions to produce outputs that resemble human-generated content. They have a very wide range of applications, ranging from personalised education to accelerating scientific discovery and cybersecurity. 

Machine learning

Computer algorithms that automatically learn and improve from data or experience, forming a core branch of artificial intelligence. Applications include computer vision, facial recognition, cybersecurity, content recommendation, search engines, media creation and manipulation (such as deepfakes), and virtual or augmented reality systems.

Natural language processing

Systems that allow computers to recognise, interpret, and generate written or spoken language for human communication. A branch of artificial intelligence, it underpins applications such as predictive text, language translation, virtual assistants, chatbots, document summarisation, sentiment analysis and accessibility tools.

Biotechnology, gene technology and vaccines

Biological manufacturing

Processes that harness living cells or biological systems to produce valuable chemicals and materials. Examples include fermentation products, biologic medicines such as antibodies and enzyme therapies, and enzymes used for environmental remediation or plastic recycling.

Brain-computer interfaces

Systems that establish a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices by translating neural signals into signals that can be interpreted by an external device, most likely a computer. Applications include controlling prosthetic limbs, restoring communication for people with functional impairments  and enhancing human–machine interactions for human augmentation.

Genetic engineering

Tools and techniques that directly modify an organism’s genes to alter its traits or functions. Current methods include CRISPR-based editing and molecular cloning. Applications range from improving crop yields and drought resistance to treating genetic diseases and developing cell therapies that modify and reimplant a patient’s own cells.

Genomic sequencing and analysis

Tools and techniques that determine the genetic sequences of humans, plants, viruses and other organisms, and analyse their functions. Applications include identifying disease-related genes, detecting emerging pathogens, supporting crop and livestock breeding and predicting how patients will respond to specific drugs.

Neuroprosthetics

Devices that interface with the central or peripheral nervous system to restore or enhance motor, sensory or cognitive functions. Neuroprosthetics are a subset of brain-computer interfaces, but with a specific focus on substituting a damaged biological pathway, rather than providing an additional channel for controlling an external system. Early examples include cochlear and retinal implants for sensory impairments, while newer technologies target cognitive and memory disorders such as dementia.

Novel antibiotics and antivirals

Systems and techniques for discovering or designing new drugs to treat bacterial and viral infections in humans and animals. Continuous development is essential to counter emerging diseases and drug-resistant strains. Examples include treatments for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and SARS-CoV-2.

Nuclear medicine and radiation therapy

Medical technologies that use radioactive substances or ionising radiation to diagnose and treat disease. Nuclear medicine applies radiopharmaceuticals for imaging organs, monitoring biological processes and treating conditions such as cancer. Radiotherapy targets diseased cells with ionising radiation to damage their DNA and stop their growth, most commonly in cancer treatment.

Synthetic biology

The design and construction of biological systems with functions not found in nature. Applications include engineering microorganisms to clean up pollutants or recycle plastics, producing animal-free meat and dairy and developing biological computers.

Vaccines and medical countermeasures

Tools and techniques for rapidly developing and producing vaccines, drugs, biologics and diagnostic devices to address emerging infectious diseases or exposure to harmful chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents. Applications include responding to public health emergencies, industrial accidents and defence needs.

Defence, space, robotics and transportation

Advanced aircraft engines

Technologies that enhance the speed, range and fuel efficiency of aerial vehicles. They include hypersonic systems such as ramjet and scramjet engines which enable flight at speeds beyond Mach 5, over five times the speed of sound.

Advanced robotics

Robotic systems able to perform complex tasks typically carried out by humans, including collaborating with people or self-assembling to adapt to changing environments. Applications span manufacturing and industry, defence and public safety, healthcare and household tasks.

Autonomous systems operation technologies

Self-governing machines capable of performing tasks with limited human input. Applications include passenger and freight transport, uncrewed underwater vehicles, industrial robotics, public safety and defence.

Drones, swarming and collaborative robots

Uncrewed air, ground, surface and underwater vehicles or robots capable of operating with limited human input, or coordinating in self-organising swarms to achieve shared objectives. Applications include public safety, environmental monitoring, agriculture, logistics and defence.

Hypersonic detection and tracking

Systems that rapidly detect and track objects moving at hypersonic speeds, which are difficult to predict due to their extreme velocity and in-flight maneuverability. This category includes land-, sea-, air-, and space-based sensors and algorithms for real-time trajectory analysis, supporting defence against advanced hypersonic weapons.

Small satellites

Satellites with masses typically under 500 kilograms and sizes no larger than common household appliances. Applications include lower-cost Earth observation constellations and wide-area communications networks.

Space launch systems

Technologies that transport payloads such as satellites or spacecraft from the Earth’s surface into orbit safely, reliably and cost-effectively. Applications include deploying defence, commercial and scientific payloads into space.

Energy and environment

Biofuels

Fuels in solid, liquid or gaseous form produced from biological or organic sources. Examples include biogas and biodiesel derived from plant biomass, and bioethanol from crops such as corn and sugarcane. Applications range from power generation and heating to transportation and industrial processes.

Directed energy technologies

Systems that transmit energy through free space to a targeted point, using methods such as lasers or microwaves. Applications range from wireless power transfer for electronics, vehicles and drones, to ground–space energy delivery, sensor network and advanced weapon systems.

Electric batteries

Devices that generate electricity from stored electrochemical energy and can be recharged through multiple cycles. They use diverse chemistries, such as lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride, and formats ranging from flow batteries for grid storage to polymer electrolytes for vehicles and portable devices. Applications include transport electrification, consumer electronics, medical devices and large-scale energy storage.

Geoengineering

Large-scale, deliberate interventions in the Earth’s climate system aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. Approaches include solar radiation management, which seeks to deflect a portion of incoming solar radiative heat, and carbon dioxide removal, which extracts CO₂ directly from the atmosphere through methods such as biochar and enhanced weathering. This does not include carbon capture and storage from point-sources such as power plants. Applications focus on reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and limiting global temperature rise, but can include malicious climate interventions designed to create unfavourable weather conditions.

Grid integration technologies

Hardware and software that enable the efficient efficient and reliable distribution of electricity. Examples include advanced power electronics, microgrids that can operate independently from the main grid, energy management systems that coordinate power consumers and suppliers. Applications include stabilising intermittent renewable energy supply, enhancing grid resilience to cyber-attacks and reducing transmission losses.

Hydrogen and ammonia for power

Technologies for the sustainable production, storage, distribution and use of hydrogen (H₂) and ammonia (NH₃) as energy carriers for heat and electricity generation. Both offer low- or zero-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels and batteries, with applications in energy storage, aviation and marine transport, long-haul road transport and heating.

Nuclear energy

Machines and systems that generate electricity from the energy released when atomic nuclei split into lighter elements. Applications include large-scale power production as well as self-contained or remote uses such as submarines, space missions, scientific research and medical isotope production.

Nuclear waste management and recycling

Processes for safely disposing of or reusing radioactive waste from medical, industrial, energy and research applications. Examples include converting liquid waste into synthetic rock to prevent leaching and reprocessing spent fuel for use in long-life, low-power batteries. Applications focus on environmental protection and extending the utility of nuclear materials.

Photovoltaics

Devices that generate electricity from sunlight using layers of semiconductor materials. Applications range from large-scale low-emission power stations and rooftop solar to spacecraft systems and personal electronics.

Supercapacitors

Electrochemical devices that store large amounts of energy in compact volumes. Though they hold less energy and for shorter durations than rechargeable batteries, they can charge and discharge much faster and withstand many more cycles before degrading. Applications include regenerative braking, consumer electronics, grid storage and defence systems.

Quantum

Post-quantum cryptography

Mathematical methods for securing data and communications that are resistant to attacks from both quantum and classical computers. The primary application is protecting online communications and digital infrastructure against future quantum-enabled threats.

Quantum communication

Devices and systems that transmit quantum information over distance, including cryptographic keys. Applications include linking quantum computers and securely sharing encryption keys between distant parties in ways that cannot be copied or intercepted.

Quantum computing

Computer systems and algorithms that exploit quantum mechanical properties to perform computations beyond the reach of classical machines. Quantum computers can solve certain problems far faster than today’s most powerful systems, with applications in simulating chemical and biological processes and breaking currently widely used encryption, and potentially advancing machine learning and optimising complex systems.

Quantum sensors

Devices that exploit quantum mechanical properties to achieve extremely precise and sensitive measurements. Applications include enhanced imaging, passive navigation, remote sensing, quantum radar and defence-related threat detection.

Sensing, timing and navigation

Atomic clocks

Technologies that measure time by detecting the precise frequency of radiation emitted or absorbed by specific atoms. As the most accurate timekeeping devices available, they enable applications such as navigation, financial transaction processing and the synchronisation of telecommunications networks.

Gravitational-force sensors

Devices that measure subtle variations in Earth’s gravitational field. Applications include enhancing passive navigation and detecting subsurface features such as mineral deposits, concealed tunnels, and other underground structures.

Inertial navigation systems

Systems that calculate an object’s position relative to a starting point without relying on external signals. High-precision inertial navigation can replace or augment GPS in environments where signals are blocked, such as underground, at sea or in dense urban areas, and offers greater resistance to spoofing and jamming.

Magnetic field sensors

Devices that detect and measure the strength or direction of magnetic fields, enabling advanced sensing and guidance systems. Applications include passive navigation, medical imaging, metallurgy, scientific research and defence-related threat detection.

Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors

Sensors that capture information across multiple regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Multispectral sensors record a limited number of discrete bands, while hyperspectral sensors capture hundreds of continuous bands, enabling detailed chemical and material analysis from spectral signatures. Applications include healthcare, defence, agriculture, mineral exploration, forestry and machine vision for autonomous systems.

Photonic sensors

Devices that use light to detect and measure changes in materials or the environment. Applications range from everyday photography to specialised uses where electrical or chemical sensors are impractical, such as laser-based gas detection for explosives or flexible sensors embedded in the body to monitor biological processes.

Precision agriculture

The use of advanced sensors and computing technologies to collect and integrate a data-driven approach to crops and livestock. By integrating local information with other data sources, precision agriculture enables informed decisions that improve both food production and resource efficiency. In combination, precision agriculture will strengthen resilience across agricultural operations

Radar

Systems that detect objects and surfaces by analysing radio or microwave signals. Active radar transmits its own signals and measures reflections, while passive radar relies on signals already present in the environment. Applications include weather forecasting, situational awareness, autonomous vehicles, virtual and augmented reality and defence.

Satellite positioning and navigation

Networks of satellites that broadcast precise timing and location signals, enabling Earth-based devices to calculate position and navigate. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) include GPS (United States), BeiDou (China), and GLONASS (Russia), among others. Advanced systems improve accuracy and speed while enhancing resilience against interference, jamming and spoofing.

Sonar and acoustic sensors

Systems that detect objects and movement by emitting or analysing sound waves created by or reflected from surfaces such as submarines, vessels, marine life or underwater terrain. Applications include monitoring marine ecosystems as well as threat detection, identification and targeting for defence.

AUKUS relevant technologies

Air-independent propulsion

Technologies that provide underwater propulsion without relying on atmospheric oxygen, enabling submarines and other vehicles to stay submerged longer while preserving stealth. Examples include compact systems such as hydrogen fuel cells and Stirling engines, which extend range and endurance beyond conventional diesel-based designs.

Autonomous underwater vehicles

Underwater platforms that can conduct long-range missions without direct operator control, following pre-planned routes or adapting with minimal input. Applications include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as anti-submarine warfare.

Electronic warfare

The use of the electromagnetic spectrum, via offensive and defensive techniques, to deny, degrade, disrupt, deceive or protect electronic systems and communications. It encompasses electronic attacks (such as jamming or spoofing GPS and communications), electronic protection (measures that preserve friendly use of the spectrum in contested environments) and electronic support (collection and analysis of electromagnetic signals, including foreign instrumentation signals intelligence).